Greenock Telegraph | Sport | John 'Cooke's' up a storm in Willie Jukes race

Tuesday, 14th October, 2008

Published: Saturday, 12th April, 2008 11:00

John 'Cooke's' up a storm in Willie Jukes race

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Race on: Jack Harrington (29) and Ross Forbes (31) race to the finish line.

GUEST runner John Cooke of Inverclyde raced to the top at the Greenock Glenpark Harriers Willie Jukes five-mile road race at Dunoon last weekend.

An unexpected blast of winter hit Dunoon just before the start, but thankfully cleared in time for the beginning of the three races.

With the wind at their backs the opening pace was quick with Inverclyde’s John and Stephen Cooke and Glenpark’s Stevie McLoone and Andy McCall breaking away from the rest of the field of 42 runners.

First to drop from the group was Stephen Cooke, then at two miles it was McCall’s turn to fall off the pace. The remaining duo reached the turn point at Inellan level, but immediately Cooke put in an attack into the strong headwind and McLoone was unable to respond.

By the finish Cooke had eased clear by 200 metres.

City of Glasgow’s Lyndsay MacNeill’s performance was particularly impressive, finishing seventh overall on her way to smashing the women’s course record.

Sharron Skinner won her first club trophy as the first Glenpark lady home, but was made to work all the way by Terry Wall, with Fiona Cushnaghan a well deserved third.

In the veterans’ categories Robert Wilson was top over-50, while Jim Sheridan took the first over-60 spot.

There was a fine performance from youngster Steffan Tormar, who won the prize for the best local runner, finishing 12th.

Robert Dolan jnr showed a big improvement and was rewarded with the Kirkwood trophy in the handicap competition, but it was heartbreak for Fiona Cushnaghan. After leading the overall handicap championship, she was pipped at the post by a single point by the on-form Mick McLoone.

In a fiercely contested 1.5-mile junior race it was Ross Forbes who came out on top to claim his first ever victory after a titanic battle with Jack Harrington.

Neck and neck for the entire race, Forbes turned into the home straight just ahead of Harrington. His chances of glory looked doomed as Harrington edged up alongside him with only 20 metres left. However, Forbes had one final kick inside him to break across the line by the narrowest of margins. Closely following in third spot was Craig Knight.

Meighan McDade gave the boys a run for their money but found the fast pace in the closing stages too hot to handle. She was nevertheless happy to come home fourth as leading girl.

The in-form Shannon Kangley continues to edge ever closer to McDade, on this occasion only 13 seconds adrift, just ahead of the improving Gabrielle Fisher.

While the group are still all relatively young, they have made incredible progress during the winter and their coaches can’t wait to see the juniors’ track times tumble in the forthlcoming summer season.

Special praise goes to Aaron Salom and Katrina Bryce who successfully completed the distance for the first time.

Biggest cheers of the day went to the mini Glenparkers who ran a 300m race prior to the main event, with Michael O’Rourke leading the charge to the line.

Thanks to Race sponsor David Hamill of TeamAndy and staff at Riverside Pool, and to hosts the View Bar for post race refreshments.

Results: 1.5 miles — 1, R. Forbes 8.33 , 2, J. Harrington 8.34, 3, C. Knight 8.55, 4, M. McDade 9.02, 5, S. Kangley 9.15, 6, R. Todd 9.25, 7, J. Pollock 9.29, 8, G. Fisher 10.01 , 9, L. Davies 10.10, 10, L. Mulaughton 10.35 , 11, A. Salom 11.57, 12, K. Bryce 12.21.

Five miles: 1, J. Cooke 26.59, 2, S. McLoone 27.35, 3, A. McCall 28.10 , 4, M. McLoone 28.15, 5, L. MacNeill 28.19 6, D. McLaughlin 29.09, 7, R. Wilson 29.20, 8, S. Tormar 30.34, 9, S. Skinner 32.57, 10, T. Wall 35.55, 11, F. Cushnaghan 38.52, 12, J. Sheridan 45.55.

l Glenpark Harriers are sponsored by Wilsons Coaches.

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